Short answer: the Marshall Middleton II. It ranks #31 of 105 large speakers by sound quality, rated 4.1/5, at $329.99. The Ultimate Ears Epicboom ranks #83, rated 2.9/5, at $228.59, $101.40 cheaper, which does not close the gap in sound quality.
The Marshall Middleton II is the better-sounding, deeper-bass pick. Very deep bass for the size/weight. Its bass reaches about 38Hz before falling 10dB, against 55Hz for the Ultimate Ears Epicboom. It is rated for 30 hours of battery against 17 for the Ultimate Ears Epicboom. It links with other speakers (Marshall Stack), which the Ultimate Ears Epicboom cannot. The tradeoff: Bass boosted which drowns out the midrange.
The case for the Ultimate Ears Epicboom: 17 hour battery with USB-C charging (first UE portable with USB-C). The catch: Not very deep bass for the size.
Buy the Marshall Middleton II. It is rated higher for sound quality, and the $101.40 saving on the Ultimate Ears Epicboom is not enough to make up the difference.
Still deciding? The full Portable Bluetooth rankings cover every ranked option.
Specifications Side By Side
| Marshall Middleton II | Ultimate Ears Epicboom | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $329.99 | $228.59 |
| Ranked | #31 of 105 in Large Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #83 of 105 in Large Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| App | Yes | No |
| Aux Input | Yes | Yes |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 38Hz | ~55Hz |
| Battery Life | 30 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 17 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes | Yes |
| EQ | Yes (5 band) | No |
| IP Rating | IP67 | IPX7 |
| Party Mode | Yes (Marshall Stack) | No |
| Power Bank | Yes (USB-C) | No |
| Power Input | USB-C | USB-C |
| Weight | 4 lbs (1.8 kg) | 4.3 lbs (1.97 kg) |
| Bluetooth | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC | SBC |
| Stereo | Yes | Yes |
| Omnidirectional | No | No |
| TWS | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.3 | 5.2 |
| Dimensions | 9.1” x 3.9” x 4.3” (230 x 98 x 110 mm) | 4.7” x 9.5” x 6.4” (119 x 241 x 162 mm) |
| Drivers | 2x 75mm woofers, 2x 0.625” tweeters + 2x passive radiators | 1x 120mm woofer, 2x 45mm tweeters |
| Frequency Response | 50Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) | 50Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Amplifier Power | 80W | 10W RMS |
| Digital Aux Input | No | No |
| Strap | Yes (detachable strap) | Yes (built-in loop) |
| Maximum SPL | - | 94dB (Manufacturer specified) |
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Prices on this page were last checked October 12, 2026 at 4:13 PM UTC. Product prices and availability are accurate as of that date/time and are subject to change; the price and availability shown on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
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The Two Speakers In Full
Marshall Middleton II: $329.99 Amazon $329.99 eBay
Older model: the Marshall Middleton (ranked lower, rated 4/5). See every Marshall Portable Speakers generation.
Same family: the Marshall Willen II (smaller model, rated 4/5), the Marshall Emberton III (smaller model, rated 2.7/5), the Marshall Stockwell III (larger model, ranked lower, rated 3/5) and the Marshall Kilburn III (larger model, ranked lower, rated 3.8/5).
Pros: Very deep bass for the size/weight. Measured bass extension of 38Hz (-10dB).
Cons: Bass boosted which drowns out the midrange. Dip around 200Hz, peak at 1kHz, dipped at 1.6kHz. Strange frequency response through the mids.
Full Marshall Middleton II review and specifications →
| Released | Jul 2025 (1 year ago) |
|---|---|
| Amplifier Power | 80W |
| App | Yes |
| Aux Input | Yes |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 38Hz |
| Battery Life | 30 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.3 |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 9.1” x 3.9” x 4.3” (230 x 98 x 110 mm) |
| Drivers | 2x 75mm woofers, 2x 0.625” tweeters + 2x passive radiators |
| EQ | Yes (5 band) |
| Frequency Response | 50Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| IP Rating | IP67 |
| Omnidirectional | No |
| Party Mode | Yes (Marshall Stack) |
| Power Bank | Yes (USB-C) |
| Power Input | USB-C |
| Stereo | Yes |
| Strap | Yes (detachable strap) |
| TWS | Yes |
| Weight | 4 lbs (1.8 kg) |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Oluv Patreon: Marshall Middleton II - better with EQ? More from Oluv’Sone →
- Oluv Patreon: Marshall Middleton II - first impressions
- Dominik Reviews: Marshall Middleton II vs Middleton I - Huge Differences? - Sound Test More from Dominik Reviews →
- Mateusz Cholewa: Marshall Kilburn 3 vs Marshall Middleton 2 Opinion in Subtitles More from Mateusz Cholewa →
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Ultimate Ears Epicboom: $228.59 Amazon $228.59 eBay
Pros: 17 hour battery with USB-C charging (first UE portable with USB-C). IP67 rating, floats in water. Made mostly from recycled fabric and plastic. Large best-sounding UE portable that still feels portable. 180ft Bluetooth range. Measured bass extension of ~55Hz (-10dB).
Cons: Not very deep bass for the size. Gets distorted at around 70-80% with bass thuds.
Full Ultimate Ears Epicboom review and specifications →
| Released | Sep 2023 (3 years ago) |
|---|---|
| Amplifier Power | 10W RMS |
| App | No |
| Aux Input | Yes |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | ~55Hz |
| Battery Life | 17 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.2 |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 4.7” x 9.5” x 6.4” (119 x 241 x 162 mm) |
| Drivers | 1x 120mm woofer, 2x 45mm tweeters |
| EQ | No |
| Frequency Response | 50Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| IP Rating | IPX7 |
| Maximum SPL | 94dB (Manufacturer specified) |
| Omnidirectional | No |
| Party Mode | No |
| Power Bank | No |
| Power Input | USB-C |
| Stereo | Yes |
| Strap | Yes (built-in loop) |
| TWS | Yes |
| Weight | 4.3 lbs (1.97 kg) |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Jay’s Straight Up Reviews & More: $350 Ultimate Ears EpicBoom gets Epic Beat-Down 😮by $120 Soundcore Rave Neo 2. Bluetooth Speaker KO🤛 More from JaysStraightUpReviews →
- Jay’s Straight Up Reviews & More: Bose SoundLink Max vs. Ultimate Ears EpicBoom 🤑Big Bucks No Whammies? 💣 Let’s Find Out 😧
- Jay’s Straight Up Reviews & More: Bass Check 💣 Treblab HD-360, Ultimate Ears EpicBoom, Marshall Middleton & JBL Pulse 5. Boom or Bust?
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